When Julius Caesar was the governor of Gaul, he discovered that unless he hastened back to Rome, he risked being marginalised in the power dynamics of the Roman Empire. The river Rubicon, which separated the Roman Empire from Gaul, presented him with a dilemma: crossing it would be seen as a massive revolt against his own empire, with uncertain consequences. Conversely, failing to cross would deprive him of the sole opportunity to seize the Roman throne. Ultimately, he chose to cross the Rubicon, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. This decision catapulted him to the position of Roman Dictator for life.

We all encounter similar Rubicons in our professional lives. The predicament is real—a decision can have irreversible consequences for our careers. When presented with sufficient data to support a decision, it becomes significantly easier to make the right choice. However, if the data is lacking, it often helps to rely on our instincts and make a decision anyway. After all, a well-made decision is undoubtedly beneficial, while a wrong one serves as a valuable learning experience.

The key to overcoming these Rubicons lies in making a decision and giving it everything to ensure its success. The more Rubicons we face in our careers, the more skilled and accomplished professionals we become.